Vago Tepeztate from maestro mezcalero Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez is an extremely rare, limited release. If you see it, sip it.
About this mezcal
Vago Tepeztate from maestro mezcalero Emigdio Jarquin Ramirez is extremely rare. The maguey Tepeztate (agave Marmorata) used in this mezcal is crushed by tahona and distilled in a copper refrescadera still.
Vago Mezcal
Mezcal Vago began when co-founder Judah Kuper visited a hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico. He fell in love with the nurse who treated him. Her father, Aquilino Garcia, was a sustenance farmer who also produced mezcal. Judah and Aquilino, along with Judah’s longtime friend Dylan Sloan, launched Mezcal Vago. In 2013, their first exported bottles arrived in Texas. Each of their mezcals is produced naturally in a traditional palenque with no additives. The brand aims to empower both the master craftsmen with a celebration of his art. Also the consumer by giving them the knowledge they need to find a great mezcal. The brand plants 3 agaves for each single agave they harvest. Their goal is to end the use wild agave by 2025 for most of their releases.
In 2017, Mezcal Vago began using different color labels for their different mezcaleros. Emigdio Jarquin (blue label) distills in copper with refrescador. Aquilino and Joel Barriga (tan and gold labels respectively) distill in copper. Tio Rey (red label) distills in clay pots. All their mezcaleros use different water sources and make different distillation cuts. In 2018, Mezcal Vago established an investment partnership with Samson and Surrey. With the new partnership, each Mezcal Vago mezcalero has a stake in Samson and Surrey.
In 2021, Mezcal Vago went through its first major brand redesign since their launch in 2013.
Learn more Mezcal Vago:
- The Mezcal Vago Tasting Room in Oaxaca on Mezcal Reviews
- A podcast interview with co-founder Judah Kuper on Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
- The Mezcal Vago blog Mas Mezcal
Review this bottle
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razorbackmike
161 reviewsoutstanding!!!obviously a different batch from earlier reviews or mabey just my opinion.perhaps one of the best teps i have tasted.great tep profile.green pepper notes with a deep sweetness.perfect amount of heat but mellow.full palate with mix of vegetal and sweet.long finish.all perfectly balanced.cant find a weak link in the chain.bursting with flavor.wow!just tried a recent batch of emigdios arroqueno and it s also stellar.huge fan!
TheAgaveFairy
169 reviewsArgonaut glass rested batch.
Candy forward :). Banana and other assorted Runtz. Floral, certainly, with a balance not unlike Alipus’ San Andreas of fruit, minerals, and flowers. Guanbana, mild ginger, jasmine, violet, lemon wheels, taffy.
Palate: Chemical, pool toys, floral, odd texture, a little acrid white pepper but oh goodness those oodles of candied fruits! Blossoms, Runtz, minerality, softness, a gingery heat, with a mineral and more classic agave finish.
Conclusion and “t8ke” scale rating: 7+/10. Bright and zippy. Doesn’t taste like most teps!!
Argonaut glass rested batch.
Candy forward :). Banana and other assorted Runtz. Floral, certainly, with a balance not unlike Alipus’ San Andreas of fruit, minerals, and flowers. Guanbana, mild ginger, jasmine, violet, lemon wheels, taffy.
Palate: Chemical, pool toys, floral, odd texture, a little acrid white pepper but oh goodness those oodles of candied fruits! Blossoms, Runtz, minerality, softness, a gingery heat, with a mineral and more classic agave finish.
Conclusion and “t8ke” scale
Jonny
736 reviewsLot F-22-T-18. From Dec 2018. 50 litre batch. Smells like sweet peppers and vanilla crackers. The palate has lots of minerals, which kind of collides with Tepeztate flavor in an odd way. The flavors of this seem chaotic and hard on the palate. 3 stars.
Tyler
668 reviews3.5 stars is the lowest rating I’ve given Emigdio. Normally his Mezcal is just exploding with flavor. This Tepeztate (bought in Oaxaca Centro) is super green and vegetal but one-note for me. There is some mineral and salt reminiscent of his other releases but the maguey flavors are muted. The finish is a bit burnt and tart. It’s still a nice Mezcal but I was expecting more from maguey Tepeztate. Lot E-22-T-18. 50 liters. 12/2018. 50.9%.
Updated April 2022 – sipping a 98 liter April 2015 batch! Pre blue label, pre rebrand. Super Miahuatlan velvet mineral candy vibes. Not necessarily green pepper Tep heavy but it’s a tasty mezcal. Had no idea that Emigdio had a Tep in the US before the blue label days. Might be a 4 star in my book but I’ll keep the previous rating posted.
3.5 stars is the lowest rating I’ve given Emigdio. Normally his Mezcal is just exploding with flavor. This Tepeztate (bought in Oaxaca Centro) is super green and vegetal but one-note for me. There is some mineral and salt reminiscent of his other releases but the maguey flavors are muted. The finish is a bit burnt and tart. It’s still a nice Mezcal but I was expecting more from maguey Tepeztate. Lot E-22-T-18. 50 liters. 12/2018. 50.9%.
Updated April 2022 – sipping a 98 liter April 201